Today’s reading: Mathew 15:29-39, 16:1-12

“And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.” - Matthew‬ ‭15:30-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What would be like for Jesus to show up on this Sunday morning and empty all of the nation's hospitals by restoring them to complete health? What would the headlines read?

For sure, conspiracy-theories would abound!

I always love these 100% heal-rate scenes. Only our Savior could pull off something like this. Nothing before had been seen like it and nothing since.

Why only during the 3-year time period? Why can’t we see all of this today? It is evident that Jesus was showing us just how holy, how different He was from any other.

One day, when Jesus returns, we will also see a 100% heal-rate. Yet will be on a permanent basis.

“Jesus, we believe who you proved You were. Come quickly.”

Today's reading: Matthew 15:1-28

'“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.' - Matthew 15:27-28 ESV

We need to set this passage up a bit. The Canaanites were the ones that Joshua and the Israelites conquered to secure the Promised Land. They were enemies for many reasons. Religiously they were barbaric, condoning child sacrifice and temple prostitution. They also symbolized what stood between Israel and what God had said was rightfully theirs.

Yet this Canaanite woman confessed Jesus as the Christ by saying, "O Lord, Son of David." This unlikely woman offers a primitive confession of faith before their interaction.

She was persistent as well. So much so that the disciples were begging Jesus to send her away (her begging was annoying them).

In this account, Jesus almost seems insensitive and racist. I mean, He calls her a dog. Yet, she is unfazed. She says, "even the dogs," and this showed the extent of her faith.

Authentic faith doesn't quit with its incessant crying out to the God of the impossible.

It seems clear that Jesus was indeed not racist (or he would have sent her away). He was telling the common thought of Jews about "unclean" Gentiles and allowing her faith to be put on display.

This is to be contrasted with the earlier dealing with the Pharisees, who had allowed their traditions to squish their compassion.

May we have the same "great" faith as this Canaanite woman. May we never cease to cry out, "Lord, help me!"

Today's reading: Matthew 14:13-36

'But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”' - Matthew 14:27 ESV

Matthew uses the Greek words euthys or eutheos three times in verses 22-31 in our reading today. Below is how he used them:

1. When Jesus dismissed the disciples.

2. When Jesus announces Himself as He walks on water.

3. When Jesus snatches the sinking Peter.

The first was about self-care (for Jesus and the disciples). The second was about calming the disciples' fears (He was, indeed, not a ghost). The third was about saving the now doubting Peter. This leads me to ask three questions about the urgency in my own life:

1. Am I leading a balanced life that includes large amounts of prayer and proper times of rest?

2. Am I allowing fear to dictate how I live (which includes believing lies about myself and others)?

3. Do I trust Jesus enough to draw me out of impossible situations?

Jesus knows that we will put these off, allowing time for burnout, fear, and failure to take over.

May we act today, immediately, when it comes to these three questions, and experience the best life possible in this broken and fallen world.

Today's reading: Matthew 13:47-58, 14:1-12

'And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.' - Matthew 13:57-58 ESV

This goes to show us how ordinary of an upbringing Jesus had. He lived His first 30 years in such a way that it led everyone to believe that He was just another kid of Mary and Joseph. Though, maybe looking back, they could tell something was different with him not making a mistake at all.

It may remind us of the prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 53:2: "He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him."

There was nothing about Jesus' appearance or family life that would have suggested He was the Son of God.

Yet this is why we have such an amazing Savior. He lived like them, like us. He experienced what we are experiencing. Jesus can honestly say, "I know how you feel.”

I pray that this doesn't make us think less of Jesus. I pray that it makes us love him even more. He was 100% man and 100% God, and He proved it with every day He was here in the flesh.

Today's reading: Matthew 13:24-46

'Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”' - Matthew 13:30 ESV

This passage covers one of the most difficult things we will face as Christians. How are we to obey Jesus when He said this about us, "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." (John 17:16)

Sure, we can insulate ourselves from those in the world, only hanging out with Christians who think the same as we do. Yet if we do this, how will we ever have the kind of influence we want to have on those who desperately need Jesus?

We must grow together, but at the same time, we don't go together.

What non-Christians are you currently avoiding that you need to be engaging? On the other hand, what non-Christians have you been engaging and allowing to influence you negatively?

This tension will always feel like it should: uncomfortable. If we are too confident either way, we probably aren't doing it right.

"Father, provide us with opportunities today to lovingly engage with those that have yet to say yes to Your Son, Jesus. We know we aren't of this world, but we also know we are in it for the purpose of helping turn weeds into wheat. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Today's reading: Matthew 12:46-50, 13:1-23

'And he told them many things in parables, saying, "A sower went out to sow."' - Matthew 13:3

In Eugene Peterson's book, "Tell it Slant," which is a book about the parables of Jesus, he builds off of the following quote from Emily Dickinson:

“Tell all the Truth but tell it slant--
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind--”

How do you get an individual to the point of believing/trusting in the name of Jesus? Spiritually, they may have ears that don't hear and eyes that don't see. To them, the Gospel isn't Good News; it is just more noise.

This is the power of the parable. It is a story that is telling us something that we may not have been interested in if it were told directly. The parables aren't meant to confuse us; they are meant to intrigue us into a deeper understanding of who we are and what God intends to do through us.

Today's reading: Matthew 12:22-45

'Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.' - Matthew 12:31-32 ESV

This has to be one of the most debated sayings of Jesus that we see in the four biographies of His life in the New Testament.

As a kid, I remember having extreme anxiety about this at night. I would think, "What if I accidentally blaspheme the Holy Spirit and go to hell? I mean, some crazy thoughts pass through my mind."

Rest assured, this is not what Jesus was communicating. This is no accidental act. It is an intentional refusal of God's presence, His breath (Holy Spirit translates literally as Holy Breath).

So when does someone reach the point of no return, they will not turn back to Jesus?

That's the thing; we don't know.

What can we do? We can wake up every morning and literally say out loud, "Holy Spirit, have your way in me. Create in me a new heart. Renew a steadfast spirit in me." This isn't so much about your entire life as it is about all the days that will fill your time on earth.

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." - Galatians 5:25

Today's reading: Matthew 12:1-21

'He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”' - Matthew 12:19-21 ESV

Have you ever been in an environment where the person who was the loudest received the most attention? Whether it is at home or church, or work, all of us have unfortunately experienced this. Then the more self-controlled individual ends up being ignored.

Have you also noticed that Jesus often would tell people, upon whom His miracles fell, not to let anyone know who healed them? Ever wondered why? In our Scripture for today, we see part of the answer to that question. He was fulfilling, yet again, Messianic prophecy from Isaiah 42:1-3. Nothing Jesus did was unintentional.

Also, I think Jesus was showing us that we don't have to increase the volume of our voices to be heard. Try to wrap your mind around the fact of how many "Gentiles" (non-Jewish people) are worshiping Jesus this Sunday morning. Literally, on every point of the globe, you'll see someone eating bread and drinking wine to remember what Jesus did on the cross.

Think Jesus needed to raise His voice in the streets to have eternal influence? Apparently not. Neither do we.

Today's reading: Matthew 11:7-30

'Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.' - Matthew 11:20 ESV

Everyone likes free stuff. I mean, the T-Shirt canon at a Pacers' game evokes screams of passionate fans who will do anything to get their hands on an XXL shirt that they'll never wear.

What about something that will cost us? We are much more skeptical and reluctant.

These people that Jesus was pouring out all kinds of healing upon still didn't "repent." This word in Greek is metanoeo. It is used 34 times in the New Testament. It can also be translated as "to change one's mind."

Jesus' miracles were not enough to change these people's minds. Did they appreciate the change in their conditions? Why, yes. Did they benefit? Again, yes. Did it cause them to alter how they lived? No, it didn't.

If our minds are unaffected, our behavior will be left unchanged as well.

So, what does it take to see minds/lives change?

It is a willingness to trust God enough to surrender all of our agendas to His. May we see this consistently in our lives and those we are trying to reach as well.

Today's reading: Matthew 10:24-42, 11:1-6

'So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.' - Matthew 10:32-33 ESV

We (and our culture at large) put so much stock in what others think of us. Our reputation seems to be the thing we hold onto the tightest.

Would you be willing to put your reputation at stake by letting someone know that you follow Jesus?

Our reading today is pretty clear. Claiming Jesus as Lord and Savior is going to cost us. The book of Revelation fleshes this out even further. We will not benefit, in the end, financially or in notoriety.

Jesus will bring peace in us, but He will bring a sword to everything that is not bringing honor and glory to His name.

Don't let people intimidate or discourage you. As your days on earth increase, your faith will not fail. You may lose business, friends, family, or fame, but you will gain what matters most. Go ahead, lose this life, and find an eternal one.